Offaly county team managements 2014

[Truth as i see it]

What benefit will it be to the county in the long run for Sid to jump straight into the senior management? Best of luck to him and whoever else comes on board.

Surely there is a need to get stable management in place at minor and under 21 level and create an avenue to mould future potential native managers?

Changes also needed in the way managers are brought through from under 15 - minor.

And others have alluded to the lack of facilities for our county squads.

Afraid i have to agree with this, while its great to have some one of the caliber of Brian Whelehan in charge of the county team i hope people aren't going to confuse with Brian Whelahan the player with Brian Whelahan the manager

Remember Roy Keane was a world class player for the Irish football team but his managerial record to date has been less than stellar

And i also agree that its all well and good for Brian to take over the current crop of senior players but if there is nothing coming through over the next few years then it wouldn't matter if Brian Cody is in charge of the side.

Look i don't like to be negative just for the sake of it but for my money right now its much more important to get good coaches in at Development and minor squad level otherwise we are wasting our time

You don't build a winning team with only a good senior coaching team, it takess year and years of planning and while its great that Brian has taken charge of the team (and i wish him and his back room team the best of luck) i cant shake this feeling in the back of my mind that was similar to the one before the euros last year where the county Trappatoni syndrome and was full of naive optimism just because the team managed to scrape out of a very week group and had lucky results like the one v russia where they team was clearly outclassed

I'll be happy to eat humble pie on this as no one more than me wants to see the county do well but we have to stay grounded in reality here, while he was a great player brian still has a lot to prove as a manager and treading on name and reputation as a player will not guarantee you success

[kinnittyman]

According to Brian Lowry on Twitter, John Troy and Ger Coughlan have been confirmed as Brian Whelehan's selectors.

And this is taken from Hoganstand.com

New Offaly hurling manager Brian Whelahan will be bringing Ger Coughlan and John Troy on board as selectors.

Like Whelahan, both men are Faithful County legends and were noted for their wonderful skill during their playing days. Coughlan was wing back on Offaly's 1981 and '85 All-Ireland winning teams and is the holder of seven Leinster SHC medals. The Kinnitty man managed the Offaly U21s this year.

Lusmagh clubman Troy also won a pair of All-Ireland medals in 1994 and '98, and was manager of the Offaly camogie team that reached the All-Ireland senior semi-final for the first time last year.

[townman]

this is great news , really looking forward to 2014 now great to see John Troy on board
and Ger Coughlan will also bring something to the table.

[Toxicity234]

From what i have being hearing Brian will make a fine manager but maybe this job is a bit too early for him. Two things i have heard a lot about Brian is that he expects too much from players, he need to remember that not every player is Brian Whelehan and the other thing is to remain calm on the sideline. Sometime he lets the pressure of the game get to him and Boss the players around so much they forget their game plan. This is a common problem with great player going into management. (They are use to taking charge on the field) Brian need to stay calm and trust his players, a good manager job is done the week before the game. If a problem arises small adjustment to position and personal is normal better than a complete change to a team as this destroys any pre arranges game plan.

The huge plus for have Brian in charge is his knowledge and respect within the game. Brian needs to remember that his respect as a player is without question, but his respect as a manager will have to be earned.
That means that he needs to have a look at all the players in the county and pick the best. Any club or personal allegiance will have to be forgotten. No Club or person is bigger than Offaly hurling. If a player have being coast along or has lost his appetite for inter county hurling the axe has to fall.

The other side of the coin is that over the last 3 years we have seen the arrival of some brilliant young hurlers onto the Offaly Club scene. The Two Geraghty and Kilmartin from Kilcormac Killoughey, Damian Egan from Belmount, Dermot Shortt, Pat Camon, Stephen Quirke and Gary Connelly from Rynaghs. Declan Parlon, Kevin Connolly and Eoin Ryan from Coolderry. Donal Coughlan, Brian Dunne and Adrian Hynes from Seir Ciaráin. Donal Morkan From Shirone. Brendan Murphy, Emmet Nolan, Colm Mulrooney and Paddy Mullins from Birr.(there is more but these are the one i could think of) All of these will have to be assessed and some add to the Offaly squad and some give the chance in the Offaly team. That in itself is a huge job.
Also if it possible to get back into the squad good hurlers that have fall away but are still need. James Rigney, Dylan Hayden, Eanna Murphy, Sean Coughlan and D Horan.
And long term , they is a batch of minor coming again that have potential writing all over them Shane Ryan, Daniel and Conor Doughan Ethan Mannion and Dylan Murray are just a few from a long line being produced at club level. A few of these will be close to the senior panel in two years time.

Brian Whelehan most important job over the next two year is to stop the incompetence and unprofessional attitude at County Board level destroying another generation of hurler in Offaly. Do that and it he be a success.
His 1st job is build bridges with the most important hurling club in Offaly at the moment. Kilcormac Killoughey. An approach to Jimmy Dunne an Excellent Trainer would not go astray.
Ger Coulghlan was one of the Selector that a good sign. He set up the U21 team very well but one thing I have to say is that he did not use all the talent at his disposal at the level. He stuck to his starting 15 even when a change was need (and left Tom Carroll on for the Whole 2nd half with a injury shoulder). Let’s hope he has improved his attitude to the player he over looked.

This appointment is the best this county board could make and it was an appointment made in desperation.
And that the problem. The county board unprofessional approach to Offaly GAA. Now Call me whatever you want. But a job that you can’t apply for sounds like the stupid idea I have ever heard of. Only in Offaly could you have a position where people who want the job can’t apply for the job.

And what more disappointing is that when you look at Offaly clubs who are very professional in their approach to the game and when you see the rubbish that comes from the county board.
Every Offaly Club manager (and club) should be sickened by the treatment of Danny Owens. It sends out the message that no matter how successful you are within Offaly you will not be considered to manage the county.
But if you manage a few clubs in Galway and then take over a Laois club with no success you will be considered. Take note Billy Dooley, Johnny Pilkington, Kevin Martin, Nicholas Claffey and Dathi Regan.
If you take your Club from underachiever to Lenister Champion it means nothing. Go manage Meath Hurler for a few years and you’re a much better candidate.
This message was send to every potential manger within the county and it’s a bad one.

After the last few months I’m begin to feel sorry for Ollie Baker.

Manfromdelmonte said that "there is a need to get stable management in place at minor and under 21 level and create an avenue to mould future potential native managers" while i agree with this surely the place you mould players and manager is the clubs level and then bring them into minor and u21. We need our minor and U21 team to be competitive and you need a man with experiences for that. If player want to be manager let them start at club level and work their way up. Not throw then in at county level and work their way down.

For the 1st time in a long time Offaly hurling has got some luck and that what this appointment is. Lucky. Brian Whelehan love Offaly Hurling but I’m not quite sure if the County Board does.

I have being on this website for a while now and I love the debate on here. But something over this thread has upset me. I have being debate where to bring it up or not of the last few weeks. But in Light of the event of last week in Galway I feel I must say something. They has being reference made to people personally life and especially where they go to socialize. Players and Mangers in all sport live their life’s in the spotlight and everyone need a break and to relax. Some do this by have a drink with their friends. This is their personal life and should not be post on this website. We’re here to talk GAA and not to interfere or highlight people’s personal down time.

[Plain of the Herbs]

You also have the option to report the post. See that triangular icon with the exclamation mark? Where, in this thread, are the social options of any individual being discussed?

I have being on this website for a while now and I love the debate on here. But something over this thread has upset me. I have being debate where to bring it up or not of the last few weeks. But in Light of the event of last week in Galway I feel I must say something. They has being reference made to people personally life and especially where they go to socialize. Players and Mangers in all sport live their life’s in the spotlight and everyone need a break and to relax. Some do this by have a drink with their friends. This is their personal life and should not be post on this website. We’re here to talk GAA and not to interfere or highlight people’s personal down time.

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Your comment "Not a Brewery Tap appointment" POTH? Although you dont specify names, you dont need to in this case.
As a matter of interest, what is the issue with the Tap?

Should we move the Brewery Tap to Birr?

[Lone Shark]

For what it's worth, what I read the "Brewery Tap" comment to mean was that this was an appointment that wasn't foisted upon the county board by the hidden lobby group that often drinks in that particular establishment. As supporters, we expect players to maintain their bodies in good order but for obvious reasons, a manager who chooses to visit the pub seven nights a week is not a problem, as long as the players are getting the instruction, encouragement and support that they need - so it wasn't a comment designed to imply that other managers were in the pub too often - merely that outside influences, not on the county board management committee, had a big say in their recruitment.


As for the selectors, I'd be interested to hear from people who had perhaps hurled under/with Ger Coughlan and John Troy as to what their strengths and weaknesses are. On the face of it, they would all have had lots of similar tendencies on the field, but you often find that a physical hurler on the field can favour a cerebral approach when wearing the bainisteoir bib, and vice versa. It's not immediately obviously what attributes Troy and Coughlan would bring that isn't already provided by Whelahan himself. However not having ever stood in a dressing room with any of them, I'm obviously well aware that I'm not in the best position to judge here.

[Plain of the Herbs]

If it was my comments to which Toxicity refers, then yes, it was a particular lobby group based in Tullamore to which I referred. It was not a reference to the social habits of any individual, which are, of course, their business.

I should know - about 5 years ago a contributor who I know namechecked me and pointed out the pub where I prefer to socialise, and I wasn't best pleased at the time.

To conclude my contribution to this thread, it was my opinion that Danny Owens was not the man for the Offaly job. However I do wish Danny and Kilcormac-Killoughey well in the club championship and I look forward to following the 'wagon wheel' along the way.

[Bord na Mona man]

The %^&*#'@~ machine is beginning to mobilise.
Ye're all a bunch of cowardly gobshites btw.

[Tipp Man]

Who is Ronnie Byrne? Looks like there is only one gobshite going by that Tweet....... Is he trying to insult one of the greatest men ever to put on a county jersey and thats hard to admit coming from a Tipp Man!!! or what is his problem? I googled him the only thing i found was him whinging on the midland tribune about Lusmagh not getting any frees in some match. Thats the pure sign of a GOBSHITE!!!!!!!!!!

[Killeighman]

I can tell ye that he knows more about the game than any of ye by the way ye have been shiting on lately

[Toxicity234]

I'm don't want to advertise any pub in here.
The Brewery Tap group or whatever you want to call them, Should have no influence on the County Board. Just because someone drink somewhere should not include or exclude him for any job. (that my main point).
Free advertisement for the Brewery Tap or the knocking people who drink their is not something I don't agree with.
I have being in the Brewery tap once in my life and i didn't like the place.
But maybe Kileighman is correct and i am talking shit.

Back to Brian Whelehan just going through his 1st interview and it Awesome. Any reservation i have about him being appoint have being put at easy.
The interview is confident, classes and to the point. if he manages like that we could be on to a winner.

[townman]

Who is Ronnie Byrne? Looks like there is only one gobshite going by that Tweet....... Is he trying to insult one of the greatest men ever to put on a county jersey and thats hard to admit coming from a Tipp Man!!! or what is his problem? I googled him the only thing i found was him whinging on the midland tribune about Lusmagh not getting any frees in some match. Thats the pure sign of a GOBSHITE!!!!!!!!!!

you should know him Tipp Man didn't he miss a sitter again ye in the under 21 final of 1989
in the first few minutes.

[Toxicity234]

I just read the complete conversation on twitter part of it was posted here.
I am really shocked at the personal attacked on one of the poster here by Twitter Account for the Brewery Tap.
whoever runs that account should be ashamed of themselves. i know nothing about the Brewery Tap. But i know if i was running a business i wouldn't be insulting potential customers. its sure as hell put me off going there.
While i don't agree with the brewery tap being name here. I have way more of a problem with the kind of personal attack that the pub engaged in last night.
The pub said it was "just don't like my pubs name being used in a bad way by people who hide behind names. Who are B tap brigade ??"
Well i have to say i'm in the process of moving to Tullamore and i was intending going to the Brewery Tap tomorrow night for a pint to see what all the fuss was about.
I'm not going to bother now.

[Lone Shark]

What amazes me is that in all this, there actually wasn't anything said that is remotely critical of the BT as a pub. Certain people who meet and drink there are suspected of having undue levels of influence in Offaly by some people, but how that is meant to be a reflection of the pub itself baffles me. You may as well have had public servants boycotting the GAA because of the Croke Park deal, or Druids Glen golf club going on the offensive because they were named as the course where Brian Cowen and Seán Fitzpatrick played that famous game of golf five years ago.

On a personal note, I'm obviously quite annoyed by their comments, which ironically have done them far more harm than anything that was said on here. I'm used to people getting annoyed at things I write, but this is only the second time people have decided to get angry at me for stuff that other people wrote.